Question

What is $\beta$ -decay? Give an example.

Answer 1

$\beta$-decay: When a radioactive nucleus disintegrates by emitting a $\beta$-particle, the atomic number increases by one and the mass number remains the same. $\beta$-decay can be expressed as
${}_Z{X}^A{\to }_{Z+1}{Y}^A{+}_{-1}{e}^0$
Example : Thorium $\left({}_{90}{Th}^{234}\right)$ is converted to protoactinium $\left({}_{91}{Pa}^{234}\right)$ due to $\beta$-decay
${}_{90}{Th}^{234}{\to }_{91}{Pa}^{234}{+}_{-1}{e}^0$